Vase with Scenes of Native American Life, Gift from Steinway and Sons

The custom-made bowl, with its ethnic-inspired decoration incorporating motifs sourced from Native American tradition, is a significant deviation from the typical patterns offered by the company. The simple bowl ornamented with cut niello shields, headdresses and pipes is supported at its upper edge on three carved legs in the shape of buffalo heads. The inner surface presents a scene of a buffalo being roasted on a fire with text in the Lakota language. The bowl’s symbolism was intended to underscore the distinct cultural identity of the United States, a popular theme in the late 19th/early 20th century.